Day: January 9, 2025

These are world’s most and least powerful passports for 2025

capital

The Henley Passport Index for 2025 has revealed global passport rankings of every country differing from the data of the previous year. According to the number of destinations they can access visa-free, Henley ranks all the world’s 199 passports. It is based on exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In 2025, Singapore and Japan break away from the group of six countries that shared top spot last year to secure gold and silver, respectively, Several EU member states including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, drop two…

Read More

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai to attend girls’ education summit in Pakistan

capital

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will visit Pakistan to attend an international conference on girls’ education as a special guest. The 27-year-old activist will return home after attending the conference scheduled to take place on January 11 and 12 in Islamabad, said Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani. The last time Malala visited Pakistan was in October 2022 when she expressed solidarity with people of flood-affected areas. She was just 15 years old when the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shot her in the head over her campaign for girls’ education. The…

Read More

People living near airports face increased risk of heart attack: research

capital

ISTANBUL: Residing near airports with high aircraft noise could increase the risk of heart issues, including heart attacks and strokes, as per a new study led by University College London researchers. Detailed heart imaging data from 3,635 individuals living near four major airports in England was analysed by the study It was then compared with data from people in areas with lower aircraft noise levels. The risk, researchers found, was particularly true for those exposed to higher aircraft noise at night, likely due to factors such as disrupted sleep and…

Read More

Govt hopes Rs10-12 per unit cut in electricity prices amid ‘ongoing talks with IMF’

capital

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has expressed optimism about a reduction in electricity prices by Rs10-12 per unit amid ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on captive power plants. “The matter regarding the captive power plants is nearing resolution,” Federal Minister for Energy (Power Divison) Awais Leghari said while speaking at a session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy on Thursday. The minister revealed plans to review eight bagasse-based power plants and an additional 16 plants. He noted that these evaluations would be followed by an assessment…

Read More

ADB upgrades Pakistan’s growth prospects to 3% for FY25

capital

ISLAMABAD: Amid the federal government’s arduous efforts to improve the economy, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised Pakistan’s growth forecast to 3% during the fiscal year 2024-25 as from the previously projected 2.8% in September 2024. The report says that greater macroeconomic stability, following the approval of the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme under the Extended Fund Facility, will support economic recovery. Meanwhile, it projects industrial output growth to accelerate with the suspension of import management measures, higher investor confidence, and easier access to foreign exchange. It further says industrial…

Read More

Market slumps over tax amendment concern, profit-taking

capital

The capital market experienced continued bearish trend on Thursday, weighed down by concerns over political instability, policy uncertainty, and structural challenges. The market saw modest gains early in the session, but the lack of sustained buying pressure, coupled with bearish drivers, kept investors cautious. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index ended the session at 112,638.26, recording a loss of 1,510.19 points, or -1.32%, from the previous close of 114,148.45. The market touched an intraday high of 114,329.95 points but retreated sharply to a low of 112,594.66 points. “Pressure…

Read More

‘IPU to send trial observer for Imran Khan’s cases’

capital

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan remains entangled in plethora of cases, a global parliamentary body has decided to send its representative to observe the trials against the incarcerated former prime minister, said his lawyer on Thursday. Khan’s counsel, Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry, told Geo News that he discussed PTI founder’s cases with an official of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) following which it decided to send its trial observer. The IPU, of which Pakistan is a member, facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and…

Read More

Pakistani passport ranked among weakest yet again

capital

Pakistan’s passport has been placed at the 103rd place in the Henley Passport Index for 2025 and ranked among the weakest. It falls with Yemen on the list. The list disclosed that Pakistani passport offers visa-free access to only 33 countries. The Henley index ranks all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations they can access visa-free. It is based on exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For the year 2025, the top spot is secured by Singapore. with its passport allowing visa-free…

Read More

Taliban calls India ‘significant regional partner’ post talks

capital

The Taliban’s foreign office described India as a “significant regional and economic partner” following high-level talks with Delhi, marking the most senior engagement since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and to boost trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass Pakistan’s ports of Karachi and Gwadar. “In line with Afghanistan’s…

Read More

SC judges seek grounds behind trying civilians in military courts

capital

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court judges on Thursday questioned the rationale behind trying some of the accused from the May 9 incidents in military courts, while others were tried in Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs). Speaking during the hearing today, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan said: “In the May 9 incidents, cases against 103 accused were tried in military courts, while the rest are being tried in anti-terrorism courts”. The remarks came as the constitutional bench headed by Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan heard intra-court appeals against trying civilians in military courts. The remarks came as the…

Read More